“Thank you for inviting us, what a beautiful home you have.” I heard my mum talking to Michael’s aunt when we arrived. We were the first ones there, which gave us the opportunity to get to know Michael’s family before all the guests arrived.
After dinner, Michael made a toast and gave a short speech, and then the dancing began. Michael hardly left Lilly’s side the whole night and they both looked so happy together.
Joe and I were sitting outside by the pool enjoying our cocktails.
“Can you believe how quickly life changes, Joe?” I said as I looked at Lilly and Michael cuddling on the dance floor.
“You’re right. Let’s not waste another second. May I have this dance?” Joe asked as he stood up, eager to go to the dancefloor, and then we danced the night away.
CHAPTER 3
Grace Valerie Stone was born a week early on the eighth of June, 2017. A healthy seven and a half pounds, a beautiful, baby girl. Lilly had spent a gruelling twenty hours in labour. My mother and I had taken turns comforting Lilly through her contractions while Michael, Joe and my father stayed in the hospital waiting area. When the doctor brought Grace back in after her initial check-up, Lilly was glowing with excitement. Finally, I had a new baby God-daughter.
Life was busy in the Gardener household. Lilly settled into motherhood and Grace was a happy baby who slept well. My parents enjoyed having a new addition to the family and Lilly was able to complete part of her Arts degree online, as long as she kept her grades up and attended the fortnightly lectures. My mother offered to look after Grace whenever Lilly needed and Michael often came over for dinner and spent time with Lilly while Grace was asleep. I was busy with my studies most nights and only saw Joe on the weekends.
My father was promoted in the Governor’s office and enjoyed his new position. He had convinced my mother to work part time so she could focus on her writing. My mother was a freelance journalist and wrote the odd article from time to time. She had been researching an intriguing monumental case for over four years now and intended on writing a book regarding her findings. She was planning on interviewing rape victims and seemed very preoccupied with her research.
One day, I arrived home feeling distraught at some news I’d just been given from Joe, and my father noticed my mood as soon as he saw me.
“What’s wrong, Jess?” my father asked gently.
“Joe is moving to Chicago, Dad. He’s going to finish his law degree there and has been offered an internship at a top law firm. He promised that he would commute, but it’s for two years,” I said, distressed. I was devastated and unsure of what would happen to us. Long distance relationships were difficult and we were both so young.
“You both are so very young,” my father said, echoing my own sentiments. “You have your whole life ahead of you,” my father assured me as he put his arms around me to comfort me.
“I guess I have to be okay with it,” I sighed, disappointed. “You know what, I really feel like a drink, Dad,” I said, hoping my father would allow me a glass of wine. He must have felt sorry for me because he opened up a bottle of red and poured us both a glass.
It was about twelve thirty when my mother finally arrived home. Dad and I had finished off a nice bottle of red.
“It’s a little late, Mum, your case must be interesting,” I said to her, slightly tipsy.
“It certainly is. My research is done, all I need to do now is write the damn book. My publisher is giving me a six-month deadline,” my mother replied, glancing over at the empty bottle.
“I am so proud of you, darling,” my father said as he stood up and embraced my mother.
“What are we celebrating here? And are we not a little young to be drinking?” my mother asked me as she looked over at my father, slightly annoyed.
“Joe is moving to Chicago,” I replied as I attempted to walk to my room without stumbling. “I’ll let Dad fill you in on the rest of it. Goodnight, I’ll see you both in the morning,” I added before I could be asked any more questions. Luckily, when I laid down on my bed, I instantly fell asleep.
For the next few weeks I kept myself busy with my studies and tried not to think too much about Joe. He was leaving at the beginning of September and I wasn’t sure where it would leave our relationship. Joe asked me to spend the last weekend of August with him at his family’s holiday home. I wasn’t even certain I wanted to go.
“You’re coming next weekend?” Joe asked, sounding worried when we spoke on the phone one afternoon.
“I don’t know, it may be harder for me to say goodbye,” I replied, a little confused with the situation.
“It’s two years, Jess, not a lifetime. We will speak on the phone and you can visit me whenever you want and I will fly back every few months,” Joe insisted. Joe was very ambitious and he knew where he was going with his career. His dream was to have his own law firms all over the country and it all seemed like a very challenging life to me.
It finally hit me. I just wasn’t sure I wanted to be part of that kind of future.
I decided to go away with Joe for the weekend despite my reservations. The weather was beautiful. We paddled out on the lake, went on long walks, slept in most mornings and made love before breakfast. Making love with Joe was always intense and passionate. He was a sexual man and I wondered if he would stray as he grew older, or even during the two years he spent in Chicago. I had heard those stories about high powered lawyers cheating on their wives with their secretaries, and it always bothered me to think that one day it could actually happen to me.
On Monday morning we said our goodbyes. It was horrible, we both had tears in our eyes. Joe promised to call me as soon as he was settled but something deep inside me felt that this was the end.
The weeks became busy with studies and life at home was always enjoyable with Lilly around. Grace was a very cheerful baby and she was growing up fast. She looked like Lilly except for her olive complexion that she had inherited from her father. Grace’s father Jarrah was Columbian and we refused to talk about him at all. All I knew of him was that he was a very dangerous man.
Lilly continued painting and we were all impressed when she was picked up by a gallery. The gallery that represented her was in the upmarket Tyson’s Galleria Centre and exhibited some very well-known artists. The curator of the gallery visited the house often to view Lilly’s new works. Michael’s aunt had also commissioned Lilly to paint a few pieces for her office in town and Lilly was grateful for the support. She was also asked to enter into a group exhibition that was held every year called ‘Unspoken’. A percentage of the proceeds went towards rape victims who were homeless. My mother had interviewed some of the victims over the years and was adding the research into her book. She had been the one to introduce Lilly to the lady that arranged the ‘Unspoken’ exhibition and Lilly was happy to take part.
It had been two months since Joe had left for Chicago and we had only spoken a few times. I started to go out with some of the girls from my classes and we would meet for drinks on a Friday night and go out to dinner or the movies over the weekend. Tanya and Megan were two of my classmates who would come over to study when we had essays due. Both Tanya and Megan were single. They went on dates with boys but they made sure they stayed focused on their future careers as well. Lilly got along with my friends and we would all hang out and chat after our study nights.
“What are you girls doing for the holidays?” Megan asked, after a long night.
“I want to let my hair down. Let’s plan something exciting, we’ve worked so hard,” Tanya replied as she looked over at Lilly, waiting for any suggestions.
“How